THE CITY OF MOUNT AIRY

           The governmental affairs of the City of Mount Airy, North Carolina are run from a modern facility completed in 1978 and located at 300 South Main Street.  The City of Mount Airy is a beautiful serene community located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Mount Airy won the All America City Award in 1994 and was the first City in the nation to win the STAR award for its supberb safety program.  Mount Airy is also proud to be the home of a favorite son, Andy Griffith.

           The official seal of the City was adopted in 1977, depicting the diversity of some of our major industries at that time:  furniture, textiles, and the Granite Quarry.  After the City’s incorporation in 1885, the granite quarry began large scale production 1889, the first furniture factory began work in 1895 and the tobacco factories sprang up all over town.  July 15, 1976 Mount Airy’s name was changed from the Town of Mount Airy to the City of Mount Airy.

MOUNT AIRY TOWN CHARTER

           The earliest town charter for Mount Airy dates back to 1889.  It contains the following excerpts:   

          That the inhabitants of the City town of Mount Airy shall continue to be as heretofore a body corporate, under the name of “the Town of Mount Airy,” and under the name and style of “The Town of Mount Airy,” and under such name is hereby invested with all privileges, immunities and franchises property and all other rights hereto belonging or appertaining to the town of Mount Airy, and in and by that name may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, acquire and hold property, real and personal, for the use of the town, as its board of commissioners may deem necessary and expedient.

           The officers of the town of Mount Airy shall consist of a Mayor and five commissioners, to be elected by ballot on the first Monday in May of each year (or any other day as may be designated and set apart by the general law of the State for municipal elections); also a constable, secretary and a treasurer, to be chosen by the board of commissioners immediately after its organization, to hold for one year or until successors are elected and qualified; and it shall be the duty of the Mayor to give notice of the election ten days previous thereto by posters written or printed and put up at three or more public places within the corporate limits of the town; and if the board of commissioner of Surry County shall fail or neglect to appoint inspectors, two resident citizens shall be appointed by the mayor, who with himself shall hold said election.

           The mayor, as a peace officer shall have within the corporate limits,  all the powers of a justice of the peace, and as a judicial officer within the same  jurisdiction and authority necessary to issue, process upon and to hear and determine all cases arising upon the ordinances of the board of commissioners, to impose penalties upon the adjudged violation thereof, to tine and imprison either in the Guard House of the town or the common jail of the county, and execute all laws and ordinances of the town;  Provided, that in all cases any person dissatisfied with his judgment may appeal to the Superior Court of Surry County, upon recognition, with security for his appearance at the next term thereof.

 That every violation of a town ordinance shall be a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or imprisonment of not more than thirty days.

 TOWN OF MOUNT AIRY

Elected officials
September 3, 1889

 H. C. BROWN, MAYOR 

Commissioners
James H. Sparger, W. E. Patterson, John L. Worth
R. T. Nutt, Anderson Creed

Chief of Police
T. F. Dunnagan

Secretary and Treasurer
John L. Worth

 Street Committee
James H. Sparger, T. T. Nutt, A. Creed

 Auditing Committee
H. C. Brown, J. H. Sparger, W. E. Patterson

          Approximately 732 persons voted in the first election after the Town of Mount Airy’s incorporation. 

 
MAYORS OF THE CITY OF MOUNT AIRY